"Every time someone from the Government tries to explain this, they leave the distinct impression that there is something they know that they cannot say out loud.

Brownlee's inconclusive verbiage usually goes in the direction of insurance implications.

Maybe - and this can be only conjecture - a definite Government declaration that a piece of land was no longer suitable for housing would lessen insurer's liability. But if so, what would be the point of delay?

The only thing becoming "blindingly obvious" is that this seismic event under Canterbury is bigger than anyone expected and insurers will not want to pay out until it has run its course.

How long could that be? A GNS seismologist admitted this week they were in unknown territory. New Zealand has not suffered a sequence of big shakes like this in recorded history, though it has happened in other parts of the world.

Typically it happened, he said, in places of high tectonic stress in crust that is particularly strong and releases infrequently. Canterbury fits the description, faults rupturing now have been quiescent for thousands of years. But if occurrences elsewhere can tell us how long the earthquakes might last, the scientists are not saying."

Another recent NZH article with a good discussion following, I don't think that there is information being held back, more like the prospect of uncertainty ahead. The results of the recent survey running out from the city towards Greendale can't be too far away. I'm interested in any significance of the mains and aftershocks appearing to move away from the Alpine Fault. As one poster mentioned, follow your instincts for living & working.

Last Monday's quakes have left one in five Christchurch residents wanting to leave the city, according to a poll. In one of the city's worst affected streets, some residents have already packed their bags, but most have had little choice but to stay until the fate of their community is decided. Lois Cairns reports.

Once upon a time Liggins St was a suburban haven – now it is a battered and broken mess.

After each of Christchurch's big quakes, silt, water and sewerage have spurted up from the ground, turning the low-lying Burwood street into a swirling brown mud-pool. There are big holes in the road, the lamp-posts lean at funny angles, and the houses bear the scars of months of constant shaking.

There is an unpleasant whiff in the air and portaloos line the footpath because the street's sewerage system was broken in February's quake and has yet to be fixed.

Another recent NZH article with a good discussion following, I don't think that there is information being held back, more like the prospect of uncertainty ahead. The results of the recent survey running out from the city towards Greendale can't be too far away. I'm interested in any significance of the mains and aftershocks appearing to move away from the Alpine Fault. As one poster mentioned, follow your instincts for living & working.

Weary Cantabrians forced into their third major clean up after last week's large aftershocks are being urged not to give up.

Scientists have warned that Monday's 6.3 quake had increased the risk of another quake of up to 6.9 magnitude some time within the next 12 months to about 30 percent.

Having already dealt with massive clean ups following the September and February quakes, Christchurch residents appear to be questioning the point of shovelling liquefaction when more may be on its way.

However, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee told TVNZ's Q and A that people should keep clearing silt.

"I think if they want to stay in those homes for however long it may be, then yes."

Mr Brownlee said throughout New Zealand, people tended to live with risk.

"If the probabilities around seismic activity are considered now, outside of the current event going on in Christchurch, there are parts of New Zealand that have greater risk," he said.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says he is losing sleep over the fate of Christchurch's quake-ravaged suburbs, but he won't be rushed into a hasty decision.

As aftershocks, some as big as 4.6 magnitude, continued to shake the city after Monday's two big quakes, Mr Brownlee was adamant yesterday the Government would not release information on which areas could be rebuilt and which needed to be abandoned until decisions were made on what happens next.

Mr Brownlee said the criteria for declaring land either safe or unsafe must be very robust, and he would not back down on that.

He did not accept people were in limbo.

"I've made it as clear as possible that there are some things that are blindingly obvious about future occupation of some land in Christchurch," he said.

He acknowledged there was pressure for answers.

"I don't like it, I lose sleep over it quite frankly, but I can't buckle. We're going to get it right so that when we get to an announcement point we have the minimum disruption," he said.

He said any decisions made now would have an impact on future insurance premiums.

There used to be a land corridor between the north, and south islands once !From Taranaki to Golden bay.

I think Christchurch is about to disappear, as the activity has been on going far too long, something massive is happening underground there, looking at Geonets site the quakes appear to becoming more shallow, this could well suggest the emergence of a new volcano, or two, or three.

Whats life really worth, if i were there with, or had family there, i would be asking them to move away as it has become far to unstable, something really big is cooking under that doomed city.

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says he is losing sleep over the fate of Christchurch's quake-ravaged suburbs, but he won't be rushed into a hasty decision.

As aftershocks, some as big as 4.6 magnitude, continued to shake the city after Monday's two big quakes, Mr Brownlee was adamant yesterday the Government would not release information on which areas could be rebuilt and which needed to be abandoned until decisions were made on what happens next.

Mr Brownlee said the criteria for declaring land either safe or unsafe must be very robust, and he would not back down on that.

He did not accept people were in limbo.

"I've made it as clear as possible that there are some things that are blindingly obvious about future occupation of some land in Christchurch," he said.

He acknowledged there was pressure for answers.

"I don't like it, I lose sleep over it quite frankly, but I can't buckle. We're going to get it right so that when we get to an announcement point we have the minimum disruption," he said.

He said any decisions made now would have an impact on future insurance premiums.

Yeah sure he is.. He should try living down there and then see what losing sleep is all about.

Quoting: Una

Brownlee is an idiot he knows nothing more than anyone else i hope he does lose sleep.the best advice is to leave Christchurch, its a dead horse but he and his government are hell bent on still flogging whats left of it.

The shaking has been going on for months now, surely this is an indication of greater events yet to happen, there is government assistance at hand to those that decide to leave it is the wise choice to make, if you look at the topography around this city it reveals a violent past

There used to be a land corridor between the north, and south islands once !From Taranaki to Golden bay.

I think Christchurch is about to disappear, as the activity has been on going far too long, something massive is happening underground there, looking at Geonets site the quakes appear to becoming more shallow, this could well suggest the emergence of a new volcano, or two, or three.

Whats life really worth, if i were there with, or had family there, i would be asking them to move away as it has become far to unstable, something really big is cooking under that doomed city.

Quoting: Soon

I totally agree with you. But unfortunately it is not as easy as that for some people to simply pack up and move. :-( I do not believe for one minute that the government does not know what is happening. I think they have known for months and months.

There used to be a land corridor between the north, and south islands once !From Taranaki to Golden bay.

I think Christchurch is about to disappear, as the activity has been on going far too long, something massive is happening underground there, looking at Geonets site the quakes appear to becoming more shallow, this could well suggest the emergence of a new volcano, or two, or three.

Whats life really worth, if i were there with, or had family there, i would be asking them to move away as it has become far to unstable, something really big is cooking under that doomed city.

Quoting: Soon

I totally agree with you. But unfortunately it is not as easy as that for some people to simply pack up and move. :-( I do not believe for one minute that the government does not know what is happening. I think they have known for months and months.

Quoting: Una

Is there anymore info regarding the smell of sulphur, and heated water ?